The Asheville citizen. [volume] (Asheville, N.C.) 1885-1889, 1887-10-11

railroad reached the city, now we have
four lines centering here; and the growth
of the city really began in 1888 or 1884.
Since January, 1887, and up to the 1st OF
September, over one million of dollars in
cash have been invested in buildings, pri'
vate and public, aud permanent improve.
ments, all of which are of the best and
most substantial character Streets have
been widened, opened and improved, gas
and electric lights and extensive water
works established; street railway COM
pany has been chartered and will soon be
constructed. The TransmOntane Real
Estate and Trust Company, with COM
plete laboratory and assay office is in sue
cessful operation; telephone exchange !;
building and loan association; more iron
bridges in the county than any county in
the South can boast excellent county
buildings; a hospital, establ. shed aEd
maintained by the charitable of the city
and country; finer churches than any
place of its size in the South; a female
college whose buildings, just completed,
are the handsomest aud best equipped in
the State; the Asheville Military Academy;
public schools and soon will have first
class public graded schools for both races;
the handsomest cemetery in the South
save one; large TOBACCO warehouses for the
sale of the leaf; we have tobacco factories;
cigar factories, shoe factsRy, largo cot
ton factory (nearing coiGpletion), several
machine aud wood. working shops, sash,
blind and door works, an extensive furni
ture factory, ice-plant. large Touring
mills in contemplation. Ashevil!e is the
commercial centre of seventeen counties
in Western North Carolina and of border
in InnnRGSpP
section is rich in valuable minerals which
are rapidly being developed, GOLD, the
finest hard woods in tie world, much of
which is not only being shipped to various
points of the United States but every
week shipments ale beng made TO
Europe; its agricultural and EtockraiSing
possibilities are simply inestim&bIe. All
the best grasses and clover flourish here,
SIX tons per. acre having been cut in q
season, while from two 10 four tons Iaay
be constantly relied on Grains, vegeta-
bles and fruits grow to perfection, aud
have taken the highest premiums at
State fairs in the North and South.
Stockraising is already large industry,
and constantly growing. weekly car load
shipments are now being made to Baltl-
more. Richmond, Wilmington, Charles
ton and Augusta. The tobacco of Wes-
popularity, it having in the leaf and as
smoking tobacco taken the highest-a
silver medal-premium at the Vienna
Exposition. Five years ago not a-half
million pounds we're raised in this section;
now the product reaches up in the mil
lions OF pounds, always commands the
highest prices, and annually brings into
the section hundreds of thousands of dol
lars As q health aud pleasure resort
AsheVille and Western North Carolina
are famous the world over, known to all
Intelligent people. 1t is estimated
that over $4,000 people came 10 this city
and section The past twelve months, either
tor health, pleasure or business: And
they came from all parts of the Union,
many from Europe. Many, of course,
have settled, invested in some enterprise
or another, in stock or dairy farms, I'M
manufacturing or other industry; while
many, men of wealth, are making
their homes here to enjoy the magnificent
climate and the many social advantages
offered by our cosmopolitan and rapidly
growing city. The wholesale trade
large territory. We can certainly boast of
the finest hotels in the Sonth, and more
of them than any other one place can
boast We have two daily newspapers
taking the associated press dispatches,
three weeklies and two monthlies.
The above is an epitome of the present
resources of the section, barely alluded
to, which shows the foundation upon
which our banking institutions are based :
and to the success of which they have
contributed so very much All of which
brings us to the point We started out to
reach, to show that AsheVille needs
much larger banking capital, and can
most safely use far greater amount in
wisely and profitably promoting the de-
velopment of the vast and varied resources
with which this section abounds. AS
collecting point Asheville is unsurpassed,
1t is distributing point from Tennessee
to Salisbury. That our business people
arO reliable and substantial, we will state
we have had but one failure in two years,
Il small one mt that, and our bankers re-
port they have not lost a dollar through
any of them. 4 better showing could
no be made of not only the reliability of
our business community, or Of the excel
lent management of our banking institu-
tions, but of the success which attends
the efforts Of our people i'll all branches
OF enterprise. We are confidently assured
by our prudent and successful tinan-
cial men, shat one million dollars added
to the facilities of our present banks could
be used at once IN absolutely safe bust
ness enterprises, and with the same profit
as now realized